How to Solve a Rubik's Cube:

A Layer-by-Layer Approach

By Anthony Hsu

Step 5:

You're now on the last layer (LL). The LL consists of four steps. The first step is to get a yellow flower or a yellow cross, whatever you want to call it. Just note that this use of the term "cross" is not the same as that in step 2 because the non-yellow stickers on the yellow edge pieces do not have to line up.

Basically, the goal of this step is to orient the four LL edges so that yellow is facing up. Decide which pattern you have and apply the corresponding move sequence.

Goal: Yellow Plus

Pattern:

What to Do:

Animation

Two opposite edges flipped

Hold offending pair at UF and UB. Do F R U R' U' F'.

Two adjacent edges flipped

Hold offending pair at UF and UR. Do F U R U' R' F'

Four edges flipped

Flip the four edges two at a time using the above sequences.

Step 6:

After this step, your up side should be totally yellow, dude. Up side, not up layer.

In order to get a yellow side, you'll need to orient the four last layer (LL) corners so that yellow is facing up.

First, count how many corners you already have oriented correctly. Then, look at the corner currently in the ULF corner slot (the corner slot located at the intersection of the U (up), L (left), and F (front) faces). Look to see which side the yellow sticker of this corner is. If it is on the correct side (as indicated by the table below), then proceed by applying the corresponding move sequence. If the yellow sticker is not on the right side (As chances are, it probably won't be on the right side.), then turn the up layer 90 degrees, which moves another corner into the ULF slot. Now check again to see if the yellow sticker is on the correct side. Keep turning the up layer 90 degrees and checking the yellow sticker until it is on the correct side. Then proceed with the move sequence.

Impossible! Your cube has been assembled incorrectly. Disassemble it and reassemble it in the solved state.

N/A

4

N/A

You're done with this step.

N/A

Step 7:

Almost there! In this step, you will solve the four LL corners.

First, another notation lesson. D refers to the down face. x is a cube rotation. The x-axis is the one that cuts through the L and R centers. When you do x, you rotate the cube in the same direction as the turn R rotates the right side. The cube below illustrates the cube rotations x and x', in that order.

Now, to proceed with this step. You want to first line up exactly one corner, not two. You want the lined-up corner at ULF. Then, apply this move sequence: x R' U R' D2 R U' R' D2 R2 x'. You may have to apply it more than once.

Sometimes, however, you won't be able to line up exactly one corner, you'll always have two corners lined up diagonally opposite one another. In this scenario, it doesn't matter which corner is at ULF. Simply apply the move sequence once and then you shall be able to line up exactly one corner.

Goal: Solved Corners

Step 8:

Final step, wh00t! Hold the solved side on the front and apply this move sequence once or twice until the cube is solved: R2 U' R' U' R U R U R U' R.

If you don't have a solved side, then hold whatever side on the front and apply the move sequence once first. This will produce a solved side and then you can proceed as above.

Behold! A solved Rubik's Cube! See? That wasn't that hard! Anyone can do it. All it takes is a cube and some patience. Congratulations.

Now, if you're like me and hopelessly addicted (not really (at least I'd like to think)), you'll instinctively mix up the cube and start again. Eventually, you want to memorize all the steps and move sequences to this method so you won't need to refer to this guide in order to solve the cube.

What's Next?

Special Thanks:

I want to thank Lars Petrus, firstly, for inventing the Petrus Method, which was the first method I learned to solve a Rubik's Cube and the method I currently speedsolve with. He is a hero of mine and an inspiration for me. Check out his site here.

I want to thank Werner Randelshofer for the CubeTwister, the Java applet that powers the Java animation cubes. Check out his site here.